Insert attachment for wrapping machines



March 2, 1937. 1.. FERENCI ET AL INSERT ATTACHMENT FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Feb. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 2, 1937. L. FERENCI El AL 2,072,516

INSERT ATTACHMENT FOR WRAPPING MACHINES FIIHQ Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Lester Ferenci and Sigurd Glausen, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application February 8, 1934, Serial No. 710,336

15 Claims. This invention relates to insert attachments for wrapping machines, its main object being to provide a simple automatic mechanism for inserting a card or similar advertising matter into a package while the same is being wrapped. The invention is shown in conjunction with a machine of the type illustrated in the copending application of Lester Ferenci, S. N. 594,101, filed February 19, 1932, in which the article to be wrapped encounters the wrapper severed from a web of wrapping material while entering the wrapper folding mechanism. thus folding the wrapper around three of its sides. It will be understood, however, that this invention is not limited to such machines, as it may be used with any type of wrapping machine.

The present invention includes an adjustable magazine for accommodating different sizes of inserts, a friction roller for withdrawing the lowermost insert from the magazine, and a pair of coacting endless belts which deliver the insert taken by the friction roller from the magazine into the path of the article just before it encounters the web of wrapping material. The subsequent folding of the wrapper then automatically wraps the insert into the package. The friction roller and insert feeding belts are intermittently driven from the cam shaft of the wrapping machine and are controlled by a one-revolution clutch set into operation by the advancing articles as they are fed into the machine, so that the insert attachment, as well as the wrapper feed, is actuated only when an article is advancing. When articles are missing in any of the spaces on the article feed conveyor, the wrapper feed and insert attachment will stand still during the corresponding periods. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved insert attachment shown in place on a wrapping machine of the type disclosed in the above mentioned patent;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the wrapped loaf of bread, showing the position of the insert; and

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the control of the wrapping machine drive and the insert attachment by the passage of the loaves as they are fed into the machine.

In carrying the invention into eiiect there is provided means for advancing articles to be wrapped, a magazine containing a stack of inserts, a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it into the path of the advancing articles to assemble the insert with an article, a trip normally disposed in position to incapacitate said device, and mechanism actuated by engagement with an advancing article to move thetrip to inoperative position. In the best constructions contemplated said device includes a pair of traveling endless belts having runs arranged to receive an insert horizontally therebetween and deliver it vertically in the path of the advancing articles, a friction roller for removing an insert from the bottom of said stack and feeding it horizontally between the coacting runs of said belts, a continuously driven shaft, a disk loosely mounted on said shaft, an arm fast on said shaft, a sprocket fixed on said disk and driving said roller and one of said belts, a tooth on the hub of said disk, a pawl pivoted on said arm, and a spring urging said pawl against said tooth, the trip being normally disposed in the path of the pawl to disengage it from the tooth, and said mechanism including a pivoted feeler normally disposed in the path of the advancing articles and connected to the trip to move it out of operative position when the feeler is engaged by an advancing article. These various means and parts may be widely varied in construction within the scope of the claims for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the specific construction shown and described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a pedestal 5 fastened to a bracket 6 attached to the frame I of the wrapping machine supports brackets 8 adjustable in slots 9 of the pedestal. The brackets 8 carry transverse rods ill to which are clamped slidable corner-pieces II forming the magazine for supporting a stack of the insert cards I. The corners II thus being adjustable in two directions, the magazine can be set up to accommodate inserts of various sizes. In a slot l2 of pedestal 5 is movable a holder l3 for a needle HI which can be fastened in any desired position, according to the length of the inserts, by means of a wing-nut It. The inserts I rest on the needle M, the lowermost insert being withdrawn from the bottom of the stack by a friction roller l8, periodically driven by a gear H on shaft ll of roller l8 journaled in pedestal 5. In this manner the successive removal of inserts is assured, as the friction between the lowermost insert and the second insert is insufficient to tear the latter loose from the needle l4 while the lowermost insert is being drawn from the stack. The gear I1 is in mesh with a gear l8 on shaft 28 supported by a bearing bracket 2| attached to pedestal 5. The shaft 20 is driven by a sprocket 22 actuated by a chain 23 from a sprocket 24 on a shaft 25 supported by bracket 8, the latter shaft having a sprocket 28 driven by a chain 21 from a sprocket 28 on the continuously driven cam shaft 29 of the wrapping machine, see Fig. 4. The sprocket 22 is loose on shaft 28 and is coupled with a manually operated pin clutch 30 of conventional construction fast on shaft 20, whenever it is desired to operate the insert device.

The gear l9 also meshes with a gear 3| on a shaft 32 supported in pedestal 5, the shaft 32 carrying a roller 33 against which is pressed a roller 34 on a floating shaft 35 by springs 38. Over roller 34 passes an endless belt 81 guided by rollers 38, 39 and 49, and over roller 33 passes an endless belt 4| guided by rollers 38, 42 and 43. The belts 31 and ll are kept taut by idler rollers 44 carried by swingable arms 45 held in tension by a spring 58. A guard 41 is attached to the top of pedestal to shield the insert attachment from particles falling from the loaves in transit above the insert device.

The friction roller l8 feeds the insert I into the blght of the rollers 33 and 35 so that the coacting runs of the belts 31 and II deliver it into the path oi the advancing loaf A just before the loaf encounters the wrapper. During the further ad- Vance of the loaf through the wrapping machine it is completely wrapped, with the insert in the position shown in Fig. 3.

In the diagram, Fig. 4, the automatic control of the insert attachment is shown. The loaves A are fed into the machine by an endless chain 48 having spaced flights or pushers 49. In the path of the advancing loaves is placed a feeler 58 which is depressed by each article passing over it. Each depression of the feeler 58, by means of a link 5| raises the trip 52 carrying a roller 53. In the normal position of trip 52 against a stop 55, the roller 53 is in the path of a pawl 55 carried by an arm 58 fast on cam shaft 29, the pawl 55 being held by a spring 51 in engagement with the tooth 58 on the hub of a disk 59 loose on shaft 29. To disk 59 is fastened the sprocket 28 driving the insert attachment, and also a roller 88 engaging with a slot in a bell crank lever 8| pivoted on frame 1, thereby operating, through links 82 and 83 connected to the ends of another bell crank lever pivoted on frame 1, a gear segment 84 which is geared to and intermittently actuates the feed roller 85 coacting with feed roller 85a to intermittently feed the web into the wrapping mechanism, reference being made to the aforesaid application for a complete disclosure thereof. When the feeler 58 is not depressed by the passage of a loaf, the pawl 55 will strike the roller 53 and will thereby be lifted out of engagement with tooth 58 so that, during the next revolution of shaft 29, the disk 59 will stand still and consequently the wrapper feed and insert attachment will be inoperative while the loaf is being raised to a higher level and then advanced into the wrapper folding device.

In the wrapping machine shown, the loaf A is transferred to a higher level by a lifter 88 actuated by a cam lever 81 engaging with a cam 88 on shaft 29, and at this level is advanced through a slicer (not shown) by a pusher 89 towards the wrapper W hanging from roller over which the web of wrapping material has been fed by rollers 85 and 85a, the wrapper W having been severed from the web by the cutter 1| and positioned in front of the wrapper folding device (not shown), across the path of the oncoming loaf, by mechanism fully described in the co-pending application identified above. The loaf is then enwrapped in the wrapper W by the operation of the wrapping mechanism fully described in the above mentioned application. The knife 1| is actuated by a cam lever 12 through links 13 and The pusher 89 is operated by a cam lever through racks 18 and 11 meshing with gears 18 and 19 on shaft 80. Further description of the wrapping machine to which the insert attachment is to be applied is deemed unnecessary, as reference may be had to the above mentioned application for a complete disclosure thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with means for advancing articles to be wrapped, of a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it upwardly into the path of the advancing articles to assemble the insert with an upright side of an article, a trip normally disposed in position to incapacitate said device, and mechanism actuated by engagement with an advancing article to move said trip to inoperative position.

2. The combination with means for advancing articles to be wrapped, of a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it upwardly into the path of the advancing articles to assemble the insert with an upright side of an article, a trip normally disposed in position to incapacitate said device, and mechanism actuated by engagement with an advancing article to move said trip to inoperative position, said device including a pair of traveling endless belts having coacting runs arranged to receive an insert horizontally therebetween and deliver it vertically in the path of an advancing article, and a rotating friction roller for removing an insert from the bottom of said stack and feeding it horizontally between the coacting runs of said belts.

3. The combination with means for advancing articles to be wrapped, of a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it upwardly into the path of the advancing articles to assemble the insert with an upright side of an article, a trip normally disposed in position to incapacitate said device, and mechanism actuated by engagement with an advancing article to move said trip to inoperative position, said device including a pair of traveling endless belts having coacting runs arranged to receive an insert horizontally therebetween and deliver it vertically in the path of an advancing article, a rotating friction roller for removing an insert from the bottom of said stack and feeding it horizontally between the coacting runs of said belts, a continuously driven shaft, a disk loosely mounted on said shaft, a sprocket fixed on said disk and driving said roller and one of said belts, a tooth on the hub of said disk, an arm fast on said shaft, a pawl pivoted on said arm, and a spring urging said pawl against said tooth, said trip being normally disposed in the path of said pawl to disengage said pawl from said tooth, and said mechanism including a pivoted feeler normally disposed in the path of the advancing articles and connected to said trip to move the latter out of operative position when said feeler is engaged by an article. I

4. In an insert attachment for wrapping machines, the combination with a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, of a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it upwardly into the range of action of wrapping mechanism in front of an upright side of an article to be wrapped, a trip normally disposed in position to incapacitate said device, and means actuated by engagement with an article to move said trip into inoperative position.

5. In an insert attachment for wrapping machines, the combination with a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, of a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it upwardly into the range of action of wrapping mechanism in front of an upright side of an article to be wrapped, a trip normally disposed in position to incapacitate said device, and means actuated by engagement with an article to move said trip into inoperative position, said device including a pair of traveling endless belts having coacting runs arranged to receive an insert horizontally therebetween and deliver it vertically, and a rotating friction roller for removing an insert from the bottom of said stack and feeding it horizontally between the coacting runs of said belts.

6. In an insert attachment for wrapping machines, the combination with a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, of a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it upwardly into the range of action of wrapping mechanism in front of an upright side of an article to be wrapped, a trip normally disposed in position to incapacitate said device, and means actuated by engagement with an article to move said trip into inoperative position, said device including a pair of traveling endless belts having coacting runs arranged to receive an insert horizontally therebetween and deliver it vertically, a rotating friction roller for removing an insert from the bottom of said stack and feeding it horizontally between the coacting runs of said belts, a continuously driven shaft, a disk loosely mounted on said shaft, a sprocket fixed on said disk and driving said roller and one of said belts, a tooth on the hub of said disk, an arm fast on said shaft, a, pawl pivoted on said arm, and a spring urging said pawl against said tooth, said trip being disposed in the path of said pawl to disengage the latter from said tooth, and said means including a feeler connected to said trip to move the latter out of operative position when an article engages the feeler.

7. The combination with means for advancing an article which is to be wrapped, of mechanism for positioning wrapping material across the path of said article, a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it between the wrapping material and the article for assemblage therewith, and means normally acting to incapacitate said mechanism and actuated by engagement with the advancing article to rehabilitate said mechanism.

8. The combination with means for advancing an article which is to be wrapped, of mechanism for positioning wrapping material across the path of said article, a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, a device for.removing an insert from said stack and feeding it between the wrapping material and the article for assemblage therewith, and article-controlled means for incapacitating and rehabilitating said feeding mechanism and device.

9. The combination with means for advancing an article which is to be wrapped, of mechanism for positioning wrapping material across the path of said article, a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it between the wrapping material and the article for assemblage therewith, and article-controlled means for incapacltating and rehabilitating said mechanism.

10. The combination with means for advancing an article which is to be wrapped, of mechanism for positioning wrapping material across the path of said article, a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it between the wrapping material and article for assemblage therewith, and article-controlled means for incapacitating and rehabilitating said device.

ll. The combination with means for advancing an article which is to be wrapped, of mechanism for positioning wrapping material across the path of said article, a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it between the article and the wrapping material for assemblage therewith, and means controlled by the advancing articles for incapacitating said mechanism and device without stopping said means.

12. The combination with means for advancing an article which is to be wrapped, of mechanism for positioning wrapping material across the path of said article, a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it between the wrapping material and the article for assemblage therewith, and manually operable means for incapacitating said device without stopping said means and mechanism.

13. The combination with means for horizontally advancing an article which is to be wrapped, of mechanism for feeding wrapping material vertically across the path of said article, a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, and a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it upwardly into the range of action of wrapping mechanism, said device including a pair of opposed traveling endless belts having generally horizontal nms arranged to receive an insert therebetween and forward the same, and also having generally vertical runs receiving therebetween the insert forwarded by said horizontal runs and further forwarding the same upward into the range of action of the wrapping mechanism.

14. An insert attachment for wrapping machines, comprising a magazine adapted to com tain a stack of inserts, of a pair of opposed traveling endless belts, means guiding said belts in an L-shaped path with generally horizontal runs arranged to receive an insert therebetween and forward the same, and generally vertical runs receiving therebetween the insert forwarded by m anism for supporting a wrapper from above in the path 01' said article, a magazine adapted to contain a stack of inserts, a device for removing an insert from said stack and feeding it upwardly between said wrapper and a side of said article to assemble the insert between said article side and thewrapper during the wrapping operation.

LESTER FERENCI. SIGURD CLAUS'EN. 

